Ra. Overzier et al., Deep VLT spectroscopy of the z=2.49 radio galaxy MRC 2104-242 - Evidence for a metallicity gradient in its extended emission line region, ASTRON ASTR, 367(3), 2001, pp. L5-L8
We present spectroscopic observations of the rest-frame UV line emission ar
ound radio galaxy MRC 2103-242 at z = 2.49, obtained with FORS1 on VLT Antu
. The morphology of tile halo is dominated by two spatially resolved region
s. Ly alpha is extended by > 12 " along tile radio axis, C IV and He II are
extended by similar to8 ". The overall spectrum is typical for that of hig
h redshift radio galaxies. The most striking spatial variation is that N V
is present in tile spectrum of the region associated with the center of the
galaxy hosting: the radio source, the northern region, while absent in the
southern region. Assuming that the gas is photoionized l,a a hidden quasar
, the difference in N V emission can be explained by a metallicity gradient
within the halo, with the northern region having: a metallicity of Z appro
ximate to 1.5 Z(circle dot) and Z less than or equal to 0.4 Z(circle dot) f
or the southern region. This is consistent with a scenario in which tile ga
s is associated with a massive cooling: Bow or originates from the debris o
f tile merging of two or more galaxies.